Ospina Breaks Pole Vault School Record, T-Bird (M-T&F) Qualifies 8 at MLK Invite

The Thunderbird men's track and field team competed Jan. 24-25 at the MLK Invite in Albuquerque, NM.

The men finished the weekend with one new school record, one improved qualifier, and eight new national qualifying standards at the University of New Mexico meet.

Freshman Samuel Ospina broke the indoor pole vault school record Friday night. Ospina vaulted 5.07m to better Dalton Smith's 2023 school record by 6.25 inches. The vault is 1'.25" in front of second place in the NJCAA.  

Newcomers Romain Toth and Adolf Kauba made an impact in the 600m this week. Toth flew down the track in 1:19.02 to meet the national standard. Toth is No. 3 in the NJCAA for the event. Kauba was not far behind Toth, running a 1:19.56 to qualify nationally. Kauba's time is No. 6 in JUCO for the event. 

Johnathon Rodgers recorded a 14.84m leap in the triple jump to nationally qualify in the event. Rodgers' jump is No. 6 in JUCO for the triple. Sophomore sprinter Ezekiel Newton ran a 21.45 in the 200m this weekend. Newton ranks No. 10 in the NJCAA for the event.  

Killian LeBourhis met the national standard in two events this week. LeBourhis finished with a time of 8:38.43 in the 3000m. The time is No. 11 in the NJCAA. The Frenchman ran a 1:56.03 in the 800m. His finish is currently No. 13 in JUCO. 

Freshman Alexandre Fablet joined LeBourhis as a national qualifier in the 3000m. Fablet registered a finish of 8:41.41 to slot in at No. 15 in the NJCAA.

The mile relay squad of TK Pahuwa, Chevoney Reid, Romain Toth, and Benjamin Nsiah eclipsed the national standard in the 4x400m with a time of 3:12.91. The finish is No. 5 in the NJCAA.  

The T-Birds also had the chance to run in the 300m at the UNM meet. The 300m race was held at the indoor championships previously but is now run in a limited capacity at select meets.

TK Pahuwa ran a junior college leading 33.42 in the 300m race on Saturday. Benjamin Nsiah also competed in the 300m, running a 34.01 in the race. 

The first rankings of the indoor season were released on Tuesday, Jan. 28. The T-Birds are currently the No. 2 team in the NJCAA according to the USTFCCCA Track & Field Men's Rating Index. 

The Thunderbirds travel to the Stan Scott & Multi Jan. 30 - Feb. 1 in Lubbock, Texas at the Texas Tech Sports Performance Center.